Craven commissioners to resume 2014-15 budget talks Tuesday

Published: Monday, May 26, 2014 at 06:31 PM.

The Craven County Board of Commissioners will resume its item-by-item plow through a 310-page proposed fiscal year 2014-15 budget at 8 a.m. Tuesday.

Some voice votes have been taken on discretionary funding for a few nonprofit groups, and commissioners have agreed to look more closely at some of the requests.

No firm decisions have been made following two and a half days of work sessions last week on whether to pare or pad the $97,356,454 staff-proposed budget, but discussion has been vigorous. The last draft goes up for public comment at 7 p.m. June 2. The new fiscal year begins July 1.

The budget recommends revenues and expenditures $1.9 million less than the current budget.

As presented, it would be funded with the current 46.75 cents per $100 valuation property tax on the county’s about $9.92 billion in assessed value, which County Manager Jack Veit said “reflects relatively flat growth in the county’s tax base.” County fees and fund balance would make up most of the rest.

Despite some apparent desire to fund some additional requests for items like recreation, libraries and senior meals programs, no one has suggested a property tax rate increase to generate revenue.

Within the proposal, the Craven County Health Department’s Home Health’s anticipated receipts and expenditures reflect only three months of operation because of the anticipated sale of that agency’s state-issued Certificate of Need to a private vendor.

The Craven County Board of Commissioners will resume its item-by-item plow through a 310-page proposed fiscal year 2014-15 budget at 8 a.m. Tuesday.

Some voice votes have been taken on discretionary funding for a few nonprofit groups, and commissioners have agreed to look more closely at some of the requests.

No firm decisions have been made following two and a half days of work sessions last week on whether to pare or pad the $97,356,454 staff-proposed budget, but discussion has been vigorous. The last draft goes up for public comment at 7 p.m. June 2. The new fiscal year begins July 1.

The budget recommends revenues and expenditures $1.9 million less than the current budget.

As presented, it would be funded with the current 46.75 cents per $100 valuation property tax on the county’s about $9.92 billion in assessed value, which County Manager Jack Veit said “reflects relatively flat growth in the county’s tax base.” County fees and fund balance would make up most of the rest.

Despite some apparent desire to fund some additional requests for items like recreation, libraries and senior meals programs, no one has suggested a property tax rate increase to generate revenue.

Within the proposal, the Craven County Health Department’s Home Health’s anticipated receipts and expenditures reflect only three months of operation because of the anticipated sale of that agency’s state-issued Certificate of Need to a private vendor.

Fire department budgets will be on the table Tuesday. They reflect increases to help the combination volunteer-paid employee fire and rescue departments continue to provide good service. Rick Hemphill, assistant county manager for finance, said those expenditures represent the highest increase in the county budget.

“For the most part, these people have been part-time and are now going to full-time aid staff,” he said. “They expect benefits, and we do have at least one, maybe two, that are paying health insurance.”

Several issues, like whether to increase building inspection fees by 5 percent to match the regional county average and whether teacher pay supplements can be raised an additional $100 over the currently proposed $100 increase, must still be worked out.

The proposed budget includes $614,000 more for the public school system’s current expenses and includes that $100 county supplement increase. It also includes increases for property insurance, $700,000 for capital outlay, and provides one half of the decline local schools are seeing in their other local revenues.

Commissioners had hoped to talk directly with Craven school system leaders Tuesday, but administration officials had a prior commitment.